Decorticating-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. S. WOODWARD.

RW 4 00 1 9 r a d Du t EH N6 t Ha AP M G N I T A G I T R 0 G E D QM 6 7no 3 0 N WITNESSES:

[NVEN T OR ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Photo-Lithographer. Washinglcn, D. C,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. S. WOODWARD.

DEOORTIOATING MACHINE.

No. 337,469. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

WITNESSES. HVVENTOR TTORNE N. PETERS. PholnLilhagnpher. Washington, no

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

H. S. WOODWARD. DEGORTIGATING MACHINE. No. 337,469. Patented Mar. 9,1886.

1 A TTORNE N, PETERS. PMRb-Lilhugnphr. Washington D C.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. WOODl/VARD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DECORTlCATiNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,469, dated March 9,1886;

Application filed May 22, 18:3. Renewed July 23, 1885. Again renewedFebruary 10, 1886. Serial No. 191,401. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SLAUGHTER WooDwAED, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Philadelphiain the county of Philadelphia and Stateof Pennsylvania, have in-' vented certain new and useful Improvements'in Decorticatinglvlachines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of thisspecification.

My invention relates to machinery specially adapted to removing the barkor cuticle from cacti, broinelia, agave, and other fibrous plants of thecacti species. Iattain this object by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan View, a b 0 cl,-Fig. 2, a side elevation, 11 b cf,- Fig. 3, an end view of feed end ofmachine, 0 (1 cf} Fig. 4, avertical transverse section at e f, Fig. 2,looking from feed end of machine, a, toward delivery end of machine, I);Fig. 5, atranverse section cf, Fig. 1, through one form of self-cleaningscraper F, with spiral spring S above scraper shown as in use; Fig. 6, atransverse section of another form of self-cleaning scraper F, withspiral spring S inside of scraper and cleaning-piston R depressed by camH, Fig. 2.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Attempts have been made to remove the bark or cuticle of these speciesof plants by other methods, but as far as known to me with only partialsuccess, while by my invention Iclaim that a thorough disintegration ofthe plant and removal of the bark or cuticle is effected, leaving thefibrous materal in aperfect condition, and ready for any subsequentprocess which will fit it for the loom or other use.

In my invention the table or frame A, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, with itslegs 13 B, same figures, constitutes the frame-work of the machine,which supports the feed or grip rollers O D O D, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,supporting surfaces or cleaning-tablesEE, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, or'drums,self-cleaning traveling scrapers FF F F F F, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,feed-roller cleaners G G,

Fig. 2, cams H H, Figs. 2 and 6, gearing I 1', Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, andbelts J J, Fig. 1, for operating the same, two sets of each beingarranged on each machine-one set, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J, Figs. 1,2, 3, and 4, being used for decort-icating one side of the plant orleaf, the other set, 0, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J, Figs. 1, 3, and4,-being used for decorticating the other side of the plant or leaf.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The plant or leaf L, Fig. 2,to be decorticated is fed to the feed or grip rollers G D, Figs. 1, 2,and 3, from which it passes between the cleaning-table E, Figs. 2 and4', or revolving drum and the self-cleaning traveling scrapers F F F F,Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, which latter travel at a higher rate of speedthan the griprollers G D, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which hold the plant orleaf L, Fig. 2, firmly in tension while the traveling scrapers areremoving the cuticle from one side of the plant or leaf. After this hasbeen done,the plant or leaf passes by a continuous process between thesecond set of similar feed or grip rollers,G D, Figs. 2 and 4, andtraveling scrapers F F F F, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, arranged to remove thecuticle from the opposite side of the plant or leaf.

The self-cleaning traveling scrapers are arranged on a traveling belt orbelts, K, Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, which pass around two pulleys, M N,Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and contain sliding pistons P, Figs. 2, 5, and 6,with rods R, Figs. 2, 5, and 6, the pistons being held back in thescrapers by springsS S, Figs. '5 and 6, except when passing under thecams H H,'Figs. 2 and 6,which push down the piston-rods R and pistons P.I

In Fig. 5 I show a form of scraper with a hinged flap, O, with spring U,to retain the bark or cuticle scraped from the leaf or plant 'until itis pushed from the scraper by the piston P, the flap being pushed openwhen the piston P is pushed down by the cam H H, allowing the bark orcuticle to be dumped into wastetroughs T T, Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to prevent the fiber of the plant or leaf from adhering to andpassing aroundthe feed-rollers O D C D, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, cleaners G GG G are arranged at suitable points, i t", Fig. 2, to scrape it 0E afterit has passed between the grip-rollers O D G D, the edges of thecleaning-tables EE preventing the fiber from adhering to and passingaround the rollers G D G D.

The feed or grip rollers and traveling scraper-pulleys M N M N aresuitably geared or otherwise connected, in order to be driven at thespeeds which are found best in practice, as shown by the drawings. Thespeed of the pulleys M N M N, carrying the scraper-belts K K, is abouttwice that of the feed or grip rollers C D G D.

The fibrous material after being decorticated by the two sets ofgrip-rollers and travcling scrapers, as above described, is carried fromthem by the two delivering-rollersVV, Fig. 2, to the delivery-tableX,Fig. 2, cleaners 'G, Fig. 2, being arranged to clean thedelivery-rollers V W in the same way as these described for thefeed-rollers G D O D and for the same purpose.

The feedu'ollers C D C D are driven in the directions shown by thearrows by suitablyarranged belting orgearing II 1 I, Fig. 1, the modeshown in the drawings being convenient.

The traveling scraper-pulleys M N M N, Figs. 1, 2, may be driven fromthe feed-pulley shaft Y, Fig. 1, by gearing or belting J, Fig. 1,thesecond set being driven in thesame manner as the first'set.

The blades of the traveling scrapers may be made adjustable, for thepurpose of being repaired and sharpened, and may extend the full widthof the machine, as at F F F F F F, Figs. 1,3, and 4, 'or may be made inseveral sections, as shown by the dotted lines at F F F, Fig. 1. \Vhereatraveling scraper with a spring, 9, on top of the belt K K and betweenit and the scraper-pulleys M NM N, as in Fig. 5, is used, groovesj, Fig.1, sufficiently large and deep should be made in the pulleys MN, Fig. 1,to allow the piston-rod head 8, Fig. 5, and spring S, Fig. 5, to passwithout undue interference.

\Vhere the character of the material to be decorticated may renderitdesirable, a revolving drum suitably connected by gearing or beltingwith other portions of the machine may be substituted for thecleaning-tables E E as a supporting-surface for the plant or leaf undertreatment; but I prefer to use the cleaningtables E E, as shown anddescribed.

The grip or feed rollers O D G D may be made either smooth orcorrugated, as may be required for the best treatment of the species ofplant to be decorticated.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the grip or feed rollers with thesupporting-surface, roller-cleaners, cams, and traveling scrapersarranged on a movable belt, together with suitable mechanism foroperating the same, substantially as described, and for the purpose setforth.

2. The traveling scraper with automatic cleaner on a movable belt, asand for thepurpose described.

3. The traveling scraper, in combination with spring-flap and automaticcleaner, sub stantially as described.

H. S. \VOODWARD.

Vitnesses:

O. HENRY Ronny, Rom. M. FoUsr.

